NGC 4535 & NGC 4526 -- Galaxies in Virgo
Same Magnitude -- Different Surface Brightness
The galaxy NGC 4535 has a faint ghostly appearance; thus, it has been called the Lost
Galaxy. And it lives up to its name. From my suburban location, the sky must be very
transparent, or this galaxy truly becomes lost. The galaxy, NGC 4526, has the name of the
Hairy Eyebrow Galaxy which came from Stephen O’Meara’s book the Hidden Treasures
(HT65). The Hairy Eyebrow Galaxy is surprisingly easy to see compared to NGC 4535,
even though they are about the same magnitude. The difference is in the surface
brightness. The Lost Galaxy’s light is more spread out and thus harder to see.
Galaxy. And it lives up to its name. From my suburban location, the sky must be very
transparent, or this galaxy truly becomes lost. The galaxy, NGC 4526, has the name of the
Hairy Eyebrow Galaxy which came from Stephen O’Meara’s book the Hidden Treasures
(HT65). The Hairy Eyebrow Galaxy is surprisingly easy to see compared to NGC 4535,
even though they are about the same magnitude. The difference is in the surface
brightness. The Lost Galaxy’s light is more spread out and thus harder to see.